The fifth and final match of the series offers England Women a chance to salvage pride after an underwhelming performance in the fourth game handed India a 3–1 lead. With the series already decided, the hosts now face a crucial opportunity to end on a positive note at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Historically dominant at home against India, England now find themselves on the back foot, having lost four of the last five meetings. Meanwhile, the Indian side, brimming with confidence and form, will look to close out the series with another convincing victory.
England Women: Searching for Stability Amidst Batting Woes
Captain Tammy Beaumont and her team are under immense pressure heading into this final encounter. With the series out of reach, the focus now shifts to restoring confidence after a string of poor batting displays. England’s top order has failed to fire, putting the middle and lower order under excessive strain throughout the series.
Beaumont will expect openers Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley to give the side a solid foundation. Consistency has eluded the middle order, and England need meaningful contributions from the likes of Beaumont herself, Alice Capsey, and Amy Jones. Paige Scholfield and Charlotte Dean also carry the responsibility of boosting the total in the latter stages.
With the ball, the English attack has lacked bite. New-ball pair Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer must strike early to trouble India’s top order. Spin duo Charlotte Dean and Sophie Ecclestone bring experience and skill in the middle overs, while Issy Wong and Alice Capsey are expected to provide vital support roles.
England Women Predicted XI: Tammy Beaumont (c), Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Paige Scholfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Charlotte Dean, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell
India Women: Confidence High as Kaur’s Squad Looks to Seal Series in Style
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, head into the final match with the momentum clearly on their side. Dismissing initial doubts, the visitors have outperformed expectations and taken control of the series with disciplined performances across departments. Kaur will emphasize the importance of staying focused and not easing off in the final fixture.
Opener Smriti Mandhana has enjoyed a prolific run this summer and will be expected to give the team another strong start alongside the aggressive Shafali Verma. The middle order—comprising Jemimah Rodrigues, captain Kaur, and Amanjot Kaur—has shown resilience and depth, while finishers Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma offer power and flair in the lower order.
The bowling attack continues to deliver. Young pacer Shree Charani impressed with the new ball in the previous outing and, alongside Deepti Sharma, will look to apply early pressure. Radha Yadav and Arundhati Reddy offer control in the middle overs, with Sneh Rana and Kaur themselves adding experience and variety to a well-rounded attack.
India Women Predicted XI: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani
Pitch and Weather Report: Conditions Favor Seamers Early, Batters Later
Overcast skies are forecast for Birmingham, which could offer movement for seamers early in the innings. Fast bowlers are expected to enjoy the conditions, particularly in the powerplay, as the ball is likely to swing.
Edgbaston traditionally offers a good contest between bat and ball. While seamers have found joy due to the bounce and pace, batters who survive the early challenges can exploit the true nature of the pitch. The larger boundaries also create opportunities for spinners to tempt batters into risky shots. The average first innings total here is around 141, but any team that posts 160 or more will be in a strong position.
Toss Prediction: Bat First
Given the track’s tendency to favor batting later in the innings and its consistency across 20 overs, teams will likely prefer setting a target. Historically, high scores have been successfully defended at this venue.
Prediction
It has been a frustrating campaign for England, with their top order faltering and bowlers lacking support. To prevent a 4–1 series loss, they’ll need a complete performance across all facets of the game. In contrast, India’s batting unit is in top form, and their bowlers have consistently applied pressure.
India Women enter as favorites. With form and momentum on their side, they are well placed to seal the series 4–1 unless England can produce something special in the final game.
Prediction: India Women to win.